After upgrading to MacOS 12, Applescript seems to require elevated privileges to execute: osascript -e 'tell app "Finder" to display dialog "Hello, World!"' results in: osascript: can't open default scripting component. whereas: sudo osascript -e 'tell app "Finder" to display dialog "Hello, World!"' outputs: button returned:OK Also: osalang -L ascr appl cgxervdh () jscr appl cgxe-v-h JavaScript (JavaScript) scpt appl cgxervdh JavaScript (JavaScript) Whereas: sudo osalang -L ascr appl cgxervdh AppleScript (AppleScript.) jscr appl cgxe-v-h JavaScript (JavaScript) scpt appl cgxervdh Generic Scripting System (Transparently supports all installed OSA scripting systems.) I have tried reinstalling the upgrade with no change of behaviour.. I'm now on 12.1, again with no change.